Nearby words
Origin of spontaneous generation
First recorded in 1650–60
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British Dictionary definitions for spontaneous generation
spontaneous generation
noun
a theory, widely held in the 19th century and earlier but now discredited, stating that living organisms could arise directly and rapidly from nonliving materialAlso called: abiogenesis
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Science definitions for spontaneous generation
spontaneous generation
The supposed development of living organisms from nonliving matter, as maggots from rotting meat. The theory of spontaneous generation for larger organisms was easily shown to be false, but the theory was not fully discredited until the mid-19th century with the demonstration of the existence and reproduction of microorganisms, most notably by Louis Pasteur. Also called abiogenesis
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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